( Chapter 5 )

Race to the Finish

Deep down, Michael wasn’t nearly as confident as he was trying to sound. He just didn’t want Buzz to think that he was scared. He wanted Buzz to know that he was serious about winning.

The race began with a pace car leading the racers on a couple of warm-up laps around the track. Then, as Buzz’s and Michael’s cars reached the starting line, the pace car pulled away.

The race began. Quickly, Buzz inched out in front.

Buzz had the lower track heading into the first turn. He took a sharp angle, holding the car close to the inside line.

That move forced Michael to take the longer, outside route. By the time the cars reached the first straightaway, Buzz’s car was fully in front of Michael’s.

Michael decided to make a quick move to get directly behind Buzz. His front bumper hugged the back of Buzz’s car, just inches from touching it.

Michael wanted to try drafting, which he had seen professional drivers do. The driver would pull his car up close behind the car ahead, and let the front car fight the resistance of the wind.

It was a way to stay close without using as much energy as the front car did.

Mark saw Michael’s move, and it surprised him. “We didn’t talk about that!” Mark said to his father.

“Looks like a smart move to me,” Dad said. “That’s what the pros do.”

For the first ten laps, Michael drafted off Buzz’s car. Buzz didn’t seem to mind. He liked being in front anyway.

The other racers were quickly falling behind. By the time Michael and Buzz reached the twentieth lap, they were almost a full lap ahead of the other cars.

Then Michael saw a chance. Buzz pulled up behind the slower cars on a straightaway. Then he tried to squeeze between two of them.

But the space wasn’t big enough, and Buzz couldn’t get through.

When Michael saw that, he moved out from behind Buzz. Instead, he went to the far outside position on the next turn.

It was a risky move. Going wide on a turn often caused drivers to fall back.

But Michael hit the gas hard and got around the turn ahead of one of the two cars that were pinching Buzz.

On the next straightaway, Michael pressed down hard on the gas pedal and cruised past two other slower cars.

And just like that, he was in front!

Buzz eventually forced his way between the two slower cars, but it was too late. Michael had the lead.

Michael knew that Buzz wouldn’t stay behind him for long. He glanced back and could see that Buzz was closing up the space between them.

Buzz settled in close behind Michael. He had decided to do what Michael had done. Buzz was drafting.

Michael patiently held the lead. He wouldn’t worry too much about Buzz until the final couple of laps. He knew that Buzz would wait until then to make his move.

A few minutes later, there were only two laps left in the race. It was time for Buzz to go for the lead.

Michael watched him carefully in the rearview mirror. He tried to figure out what Buzz’s plan might be. How would Buzz try to take the lead?

Mark and his father were nervous. Mark was jumping up and down and yelling. He yelled so much that his voice was almost gone.

As the cars moved into turn two, Buzz went for it. At the turn, he eased back, creating a little room between him and Michael. Then, as Michael whizzed around the turn and into the straightaway, Buzz sped up. He moved close to Michael’s car, trying to beat him to the next turn and force him away.

Michael wasn’t letting up. He hit the gas hard and tried to force his way to the low spot at the next turn. But as the cars drew nearer to the turn, Buzz’s car was next to Michael’s. And he wasn’t moving.